Other Titles
The Forgotten Vulnerable: Advocating for Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention in Long-Term Care [Symposium Title]
Abstract
Aim: To assess the self-perceived pandemic prevention competencies of health and care workers in Taiwan’s long-term care institutions and identified key factors influencing these competencies.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from June to July 2024 using stratified proportional sampling of health and care workers (nursing and nursing assistants) from various types of long-term care institutions (assisted living facilities, residential care homes and nursing homes). Participants were actively employed during the survey, involved in COVID-19 prevention efforts, and proficient in reading traditional Chinese. Data on pandemic prevention competencies were collected, using the Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention Competencies Scale (EIDPCS). Other data collected included: participants' demographics, and workplace characteristics.
Results: A total of 433 valid responses were obtained, representing residential care homes (n=269), nursing homes (n=125), and assisted living facilities (n=39). Participants generally rated their competencies as strong, with no significant differences between roles, and a mean score of 65.2 on the EIDPCS (range 40–81). Key predictors of competencies included a sense of purpose, perceived supervisor support, alignment with institutional culture, job satisfaction, and regular pandemic prevention drills.
Conclusion: Health and care workers in Taiwan’s long-term care institutions are generally competent in pandemic prevention but struggle with innovative problem-solving. Key predictors include a sense of purpose, supervisor recognition, job satisfaction, and regular drills. Institutional efforts and policy advocacy are crucial to enhancing preparedness.
Notes
References:
Center for Systems Science and Engineering. (2020). Modeling the Spread of 2019-nCoV. Whiting School of Engineering of Johns Hopkins University. https://systems.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Gardner-JHU_nCoV-Modeling-Report_Jan-26.pdf
Huang, L. H., Chen, C. M., Chen, S. F., & Wang, H. H. (2020). Roles of nurses and National Nurses Associations in combating COVID-19: Taiwan experience. International nursing review, 67(3), 318–322.
International Council of Nurses. (2019).
ICN’s Leadership For Change (LFC) Programme - Taiwan Nurses Association holds second successful workshop. https://www.icn.ch/news/icns-leadership-change-lfc-programme-taiwan-nurses-association-holds-second-successful
Levin, A. T., Hanage, W. P., Owusu-Boaitey, N., Cochran, K. B., Walsh, S. P., & Meyerowitz-Katz, G. (2020). Assessing the age specificity of infection fatality rates for COVID-19: systematic review, meta-analysis, and public policy implications. European journal of epidemiology, 35(12), 1123–1138.
TSAI, I-W. (2020). President of Taiwan: How My Country Prevented a Major Outbreak of COVID-19. TIME. https://time.com/collection/finding-hope-coronavirus-pandemic/5820596/taiwan-coronavirus-lessons/
World Health Organization. (2020). Prevention, identification and management of health worker infection in the context of COVID-19. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/10665-336265
Sigma Membership
Lambda Beta at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Long-term Care, Public and Community Health, Policy and Advocacy, Pandemic Prevention Competencies, Taiwan
Recommended Citation
Kung, Po-Jen; Chen, Ching-Min; and Ornstein, Katherine, "Pandemic Prevention Competencies of Long-Term Care Institution Workers: A National Survey in Taiwan" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 297.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/297
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Pandemic Prevention Competencies of Long-Term Care Institution Workers: A National Survey in Taiwan
Seattle, Washington, USA
Aim: To assess the self-perceived pandemic prevention competencies of health and care workers in Taiwan’s long-term care institutions and identified key factors influencing these competencies.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from June to July 2024 using stratified proportional sampling of health and care workers (nursing and nursing assistants) from various types of long-term care institutions (assisted living facilities, residential care homes and nursing homes). Participants were actively employed during the survey, involved in COVID-19 prevention efforts, and proficient in reading traditional Chinese. Data on pandemic prevention competencies were collected, using the Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention Competencies Scale (EIDPCS). Other data collected included: participants' demographics, and workplace characteristics.
Results: A total of 433 valid responses were obtained, representing residential care homes (n=269), nursing homes (n=125), and assisted living facilities (n=39). Participants generally rated their competencies as strong, with no significant differences between roles, and a mean score of 65.2 on the EIDPCS (range 40–81). Key predictors of competencies included a sense of purpose, perceived supervisor support, alignment with institutional culture, job satisfaction, and regular pandemic prevention drills.
Conclusion: Health and care workers in Taiwan’s long-term care institutions are generally competent in pandemic prevention but struggle with innovative problem-solving. Key predictors include a sense of purpose, supervisor recognition, job satisfaction, and regular drills. Institutional efforts and policy advocacy are crucial to enhancing preparedness.
Description
Overall Symposium Summary: Emerging infectious diseases pose severe risks to long-term care institutions due to resource constraints and resident vulnerabilities. This national four-phase study addresses these risks: Phase One defines key roles in infection prevention; Phase Two develops a competency instrument for frontline workers; and Phases Three and Four explore barriers and facilitators in infection control. This research urges policy action, presenting a globally adaptable model to strengthen care institutions.
Note: The attached slide deck is a combined symposium presentation containing the slides of all featured symposium speakers. It does not contain individual title slides for each session presented within the symposium.
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